DAVID Baddiel said he was pleased to “give something back” before performing his comedy show about dementia at the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End on Friday.

The comedian, who lives in South End Green, had organised the charity fundraiser of My Family: Not the Sitcom for the National Brain Appeal, Alzheimer’s Society and The Unforgettable Foundation.

Mr Baddiel said: “One of the things the show tries to do is challenge stock ideas about dementia – particu­larly the idea that it’s some­thing which can’t possibly be broached through comedy – and the reaction I’ve had, both from people with relatives living with dementia and from organis­ations like Alzheimer’s Society, The National Brain Appeal, and The Unforget­table Foundation has been so positive that I thought I’d like to, in that immortal phrase, give something back.”

Mr Baddiel has got involved with the charities after his father was diagnosed with rare fronto-temporal dementia.

Actor Stephen Mangan, who lives in Belsize, was also at the event in the Vaudeville Theatre.

Charity chief executive Theresa Dauncey said: “This will be a much-needed boost to The National Brain Appeal’s fund, Rare Dementia Support, to help patients and families access specialist support.”